This aerial view, annotated with the names of the principal ships in this Anglo-Spanish action off the coast of Sicily, shows Monamy's closeness to the van de Velde tradition, although it is not thought that he worked in the studio. The antiquary George Vertue, writing at the time of Monamy's death in 1749, mentioned the artist's 'Early affection to drawing of ships and vessels of all kinds and the imitation of other famous masters of paintings in that manner. Van de Veldes & � '. The drawing is signed in the lower left hand corner 'P Monamy'.